The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the characteristics of patients seeking orthodontic
treatment and determine the relationship between the type of motivation and the level of orthodontic treatment
needed using the Dental Health Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (DHC-IOTN). Samples of
this study included all consultation records of 2,008 patients from 2014-2017 who were aged over 12 years old
for determining the level orthodontic treatment need by DHC-IOTN. Descriptive analysis and chi-square test were
used in this study. Results showed most of the samples were female (74.3 %), aged 19-35 years old (47.9 %) with
internal motivation (52.0 %). The types of motivation of patients aged 7-12 years old and 19-35 years old were
mainly external and internal motivations, respectively. Samples were categorized as “Great need” (DHC grades 4-5)
about 50.5 %, while 33.6 % of them were in “No need” (DHC grades 1-2). There was no statistical relationship
between patient motivation and orthodontic treatment need level found in this study. So, it can be concluded that
female patients sought orthodontic treatment more than males. Late teenage-young adult patients made up the
main group of patients seeking orthodontic treatment driven mainly by internal motivation, while most childhood
patients were referred from general dentists and due to parental demand. About one third of patients were categorized
“No need” for orthodontic treatment and no statistical relationship was found between the type of patient motivations
and the severity of orthodontic treatment need.